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A Capri day trip from Naples takes a full day (around 8 hours), return ferry included. The small-group tours selected here are rated between 4.84 and 5.0 on Viator, starting from £79 per person. Since 2026, groups are capped at 40 people and motorboats are banned from the Faraglioni. For a first visit with no logistical stress, I recommend the small-group tour with ferry included from Molo Beverello, which covers Capri, Anacapri and the Monte Solaro chairlift in a single day.
Capri in July means up to 50,000 visitors a day for just 14,000 permanent residents. I’ve seen queues stretching from Marina Grande to the funicular, guides waving coloured umbrellas above 60 heads, and ferry slots sold out three days in advance. What nobody tells you on the UK travel circuit is that the new 2026 regulations genuinely change the game — and that small-group tours run by reputable operators are now the smartest way to set foot on the island.
Since early 2026, Capri’s town council has capped organised groups at 40 people. Loudspeakers are banned, guide flags too. Motorboats can no longer pass between the Faraglioni — only kayaks and rowing boats are allowed there now. These rules hit mass-market operators hard. They work directly in favour of travellers who choose a human-scale tour: you visit the island under the same conditions as a long-time resident.
My selection covers the ten best Viator tours for a Capri day trip from Naples, all rated at least 4.84 stars across hundreds of verified reviews. Three distinct segments: all-inclusive small-group tours (ferry, guide, Anacapri), shared boat tours around the island, and private boats for families or special occasions. The flagship tour with 2,341 reviews departs directly from Molo Beverello — ferry, guide and Monte Solaro chairlift all included. Book ahead: June to September slots sell out weeks in advance.
Capri in 2026: an island under pressure
The island of Capri (Q173292) covers 10.36 km² in the Gulf of Naples (Q2634), in the Campania region. It comprises two municipalities: Capri in the east, and Anacapri (Q71617) to the west — quieter and more authentic. The highest point is Monte Solaro (Q3322117, 589 m), reachable by chairlift from Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri in 13 minutes. The island hosted Emperor Tiberius, who governed the Roman Empire for ten years from Villa Jovis (Q2165460), perched 334 m above the island’s north-east tip.
The Grotta Azzurra (Q605185) — the Blue Grotto — is a unique natural phenomenon: sunlight enters through an underwater opening and reflects as electric blue. Rediscovered in 1826 by writer August Kopisch, it is today Capri’s most visited site. Access remains subject to weather conditions and closes whenever the sea swells. The Faraglioni rock formations (Q103901155) — three limestone pinnacles off the east coast, one of which shelters the endemic blue lizard — have been off-limits to motorboats since 2026, a decision welcomed by conservationists.
The 10 best tours for a Capri day trip from Naples
1. Small-group Capri + Anacapri — ferry from Molo Beverello
With 2,341 reviews and the strongest rating in this selection, this tour is the benchmark for a first Capri day trip from Naples. Departure is right outside the Pic Nic Bar at Molo Beverello — no need to navigate the port on your own. Return ferry, local guide, minibus to Anacapri and Monte Solaro chairlift ticket are all included: zero extra logistics on your part.
- Return ferry Naples–Capri included
- Monte Solaro chairlift included (360° views of Vesuvius)
- Category leader with over 2,300 verified reviews
2. Capri + Blue Grotto from Naples or Sorrento — full tour
This tour is ideal if the Blue Grotto is your priority and you’re departing from Sorrento rather than Naples. The itinerary includes a boat tour around the island — a perspective that land-only tours simply don’t offer. The Blue Grotto is included subject to weather: if it closes, the operator adapts the programme with other sea caves. 1,074 reviews confirm long-term reliability.
- Blue Grotto in the programme (weather permitting)
- Flexible departure — Naples or Sorrento to suit your base
- Boat tour around the island included
3. Blue Grotto, Anacapri and Capri — small group from Naples
The triple itinerary of this tour — Blue Grotto, Anacapri and Capri town — is the most complete small-group option departing from Molo Beverello. The bilingual guide handles all logistics, including the minibus up to Anacapri. This is the tour to choose if you don’t want to pick between the grotto and the hilltop village.
- Blue Grotto with access included in the price
- Bilingual guide, departing Molo Beverello (Naples city centre)
- Anacapri + Capri town + return ferry all included
4. Boat tour around the island — sea caves and swimming
This boat tour is fundamentally different from land-based excursions: you see Capri from the sea, where the views are most spectacular. Boarding is at Marina Grande on Capri — you make your own way to the island by ferry. The itinerary includes the Emerald and White Grottoes, swimming coves only reachable by boat, and a pass under the Faraglioni before the 2026 motorboat ban makes that impossible for good.
- Views impossible from land — exclusive nautical perspective
- Secret coves for swimming and snorkelling
- 4.93 stars / 461 reviews — among the highest rated on the island
5. Capri and Blue Grotto in an ultra-small group — max 8 people
This is the tour most in keeping with the spirit of the 2026 regulations: capped at 8 guests, with an English-speaking guide throughout. The cultural angle is well crafted — the island’s history from the Tiberius era through to the 1960s celebrity scene is woven into the programme. Via Krupp and the Gardens of Augustus feature on the itinerary, two free-entry sites that large-scale tours routinely skip.
- Maximum 8 guests — comfort and freedom guaranteed
- English-speaking guide available on request
- Via Krupp + Gardens of Augustus on the itinerary
6. Private boat around Capri — 5 hrs from Sorrento or Positano
First of the private boats in this selection, and the most versatile for departure point. Priced per boat (ideal for 4–8 people): split four ways, the cost per head becomes comparable to a premium small-group tour. The skipper builds the itinerary in real time according to conditions and your preferences — Faraglioni, coloured grottoes, hidden swimming coves. Snorkelling equipment is provided on board.
- Price per boat — ideal for families or groups of 4–8
- Departure from Sorrento, Positano or Marina Grande
- Tailor-made itinerary with experienced bilingual skipper
7. Full-day private boat — 8 hours at your own pace
For those who want Capri without a timetable or compromise. Eight hours on a private boat, dedicated skipper, departure point of your choice based on your accommodation — the most flexible tour on this list. A lunch option on board or at a restaurant on the island can be arranged. The 4.99 rating across 162 reviews makes it the joint-highest rated private boat option in the selection.
- 8 hours with no set schedule — fully personalised pace
- Flexible departure port — confirmed after booking
- Optional lunch on board or ashore available
8. Premium private tour from Naples — Blue Grotto and Anacapri
The premium tier of this selection, with no sharing and no compromises. Exclusive guide dedicated to your group, private ferry from Molo Beverello in Naples, Blue Grotto entry included in the price (unlike most other tours). Designed for honeymoons, milestone birthdays or simply when you don’t want to negotiate with a crowd. The 4.99 rating across 127 reviews speaks for itself.
- No other groups — total exclusivity from Molo Beverello
- Blue Grotto entry included in the price
- Ideal for honeymoons, anniversaries or special occasions
9. 5-star private boat — Capri and Amalfi Coast from Positano
A perfect 5.0 across 112 reviews — the highest-rated tour in the selection. Departing from Positano or Sorrento, the itinerary can combine Capri and the Amalfi Coast in a single day, something no other tour on this list offers. Cooler, drinks and snorkelling equipment are all included on board. If you’re based on the Amalfi side rather than in Naples, this is the most logistically sensible choice.
- 5.0 stars across 112 reviews — perfect score in the selection
- Capri + Amalfi Coast combination in one day possible
- Ideal if based in Positano, Amalfi or Sorrento
10. Private Gozzo 3 hrs from Marina Grande — half-day on the island
The short option in this selection, designed for those already staying on Capri who want to explore the island by sea without committing a full day. The Gozzo is a traditional Neapolitan wooden boat — not a mass-tourism vessel. Three hours with an expert local skipper, swimming spots that only locals know, and the Faraglioni seen from water level.
- 3-hour option — ideal if you’re already staying on Capri
- Traditional Neapolitan Gozzo — an authentic vessel
- Secret swimming spots, 4.99 stars / 102 reviews
Planning your trip
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Check availabilityHow to get from Naples to Capri
Molo Beverello is the main departure point for Capri from Naples city centre, opposite Castel Nuovo. This is where the hydrofoils (aliscafi) of NLG and SNAV depart: allow 45 to 50 minutes for the crossing, with a single ticket costing between £19 and £25. The conventional Caremar ferries depart from Calata Porta di Massa — slower (1 hr 20 min) but cheaper (£12–£16). The vast majority of Viator small-group tours include the return ferry in their price — check this point before booking a private boat tour, which often requires you to make your own way to Marina Grande on Capri.
In summer (June–September), expect around 19 to 20 crossings per day. The first departure is as early as 05:35 from Naples, with the last return from Capri around 19:30–20:00. To avoid the 09:30–10:30 rush at Marina Grande, either take the first ferry of the day or arrive on Capri after 15:00 — the atmosphere around the Piazzetta is completely different once the group excursions have headed back to Naples. On the island, the funicular runs from Marina Grande to Capri town every 15 minutes (£1.80), and local buses connect to Anacapri (15 min, £1.80). Mopeds remain banned for non-resident tourists since 2022.
Frequently asked questions about a Capri day trip from Naples
Which is the best-rated tour for a Capri day trip from Naples?
The small-group tour with ferry included from Molo Beverello has 2,341 reviews with a rating of 4.89 on Viator — the most popular in the selection. For a perfect score (5.0), the private boat from Positano (112 reviews) is the most recently acclaimed. For the shared boat segment departing from the island, the nautical tour around Capri stands at 4.93 across 461 reviews.
Is the Blue Grotto included in Viator tours?
Some tours include the Blue Grotto in their itinerary (tours no. 2, no. 3 and no. 5), but always « subject to weather conditions ». The grotto closes regularly when the sea picks up — a reality that honest operators state clearly. If the Blue Grotto is your absolute priority, choose the premium private tour (no. 8), which includes entry and can adjust the timing to conditions. If visiting independently, budget around £36–£40 (entry + rowboat + transfer) on the day.
What is the best time of year to visit Capri from Naples?
April–May and September are the ideal periods: pleasant temperatures (18–24°C), bougainvillea in bloom, manageable queues and lower prices than in summer. July–August brings up to 50,000 visitors per day — waits at the funicular and the Blue Grotto can exceed an hour. In low season (October–March), Capri is almost deserted but the Blue Grotto is often closed and some boat operators suspend their circuits.
What do the new 2026 regulations mean for tourists?
Since early 2026, Capri’s town council has introduced several anti-overtourism restrictions: organised group sizes capped at 40 people, loudspeakers banned (earpieces required for groups over 20), guide flags and umbrellas prohibited. Motorboats can no longer travel between the Faraglioni — only kayaks and rowing boats are now permitted there. These rules penalise large mass-market operators and benefit small-group tours (under 40 people), all of which comply in this Viator selection.
Private boat or small group: which should I choose for Capri?
It depends on your budget and group size. Small-group tours (£79–£146 per person, ferry included) are the best option for solo travellers, couples and budget-conscious visitors: guide, structured programme and logistics sorted in advance. Private boats (£354–£1,107 per boat) make financial sense from 4–5 people — split five ways, the per-head cost becomes comparable to a premium tour. They offer complete flexibility over the itinerary and timings, and avoid the crowds at Marina Grande entirely.
Sources
- ANSA Campania — New anti-overtourism rules Capri 2026 — accessed 18 May 2026
- Euronews Travel — Capri bans motorboats near the Faraglioni — accessed 18 May 2026
- Capri.net — Tourism statistics for the island of Capri — accessed 18 May 2026
- Villa Jovis — Official site of Tiberius’s Roman villa on Capri — accessed 18 May 2026
- Viator — Capri tours catalogue (API data) — accessed 18 May 2026
Ready to explore Capri from Naples?
Book your tour in advance — June to September slots sell out weeks ahead, especially for small groups and private boats.
See tour no. 1 — 2,341 reviews